Unlock your potential with Eden Education

Paul and Katrina (Image: Eden Education) Eden Education is the brainchild of two teachers, Katrina Hewgill and Paul Rivers, and was inspired by an education feature Katrina read which outlined a different way of teaching - a method which wasn’t as ridged as England’s mainstream education system - which both Katrina and Paul felt was failing certain pupils. But it's not only youngsters who benefit, at Eden Education they are looking to provide education opportunities to adults, too.

Said Katrina, who has 15 years’ experience in education: “It is difficult being in that situation and realising that you can’t help certain pupils because, as a teacher, you don’t get the necessary support.

Katrina (Image: Premier Pro) “We decided we were going to set up a school and do education our way. While we still needed to reach the relevant academic standards required in all subjects, we were determined to make lessons engaging and fun.”

“We gave students autonomy, so we dispensed with school uniforms, and, for example, there is no raising a hand to get permission to go to the bathroom.

“We stripped it all back to one pupil, one teacher, one pencil and that was all we needed to make a positive change in the lives of our students.”

Tutors with past and current students. Chad is fourth from the left (Image: Premiere Pro) One of the pupils who has benefited from the Eden Education approach is Chad, who recognises the positive outcome attending Eden has had on him in being able to pursue a career in engineering.

“I doubt if I would have ended up in the job I have now if it wasn’t for Eden Education,” said Chad, who recently qualified as an aviation engineer.

“Eden was a stepping stone to getting my GCSEs, which in turn was a stepping stone to A Levels, then a degree.

“Without Eden Education who knows where I would have ended up? Not doing what I'm doing now!”

Chad is just one of many success stories Eden Education can call on. Since opening its doors eight years ago, Eden Education has, year on year, outgrown its premises as it serves the educational needs of the community, with students from a variety of backgrounds enrolling. Now on it’s third building, plans are in the pipeline to redevelop and expand the current premises.

“We started with an acorn of an idea, and it has grown and keeps on growing,” said Katrina.

While the buildings and the need for Eden continues to grow, the class sizes remain small, rarely exceeding five students per class, and just as important as the class size are the way lessons are structured and taught.

Added Katrina: “What we offer is different. We incorporate into the lessons things that the students enjoy, building those features into the course work. For example, if a student likes Spiderman, then we would integrate Spiderman into the lessons, watch Spiderman films then analyse and dissect the dialogue.

“We have found that by taking this approach across all subjects, students are more engaged and their academic attainment increases by several levels.”

With exam results due out soon Katrina is confident there will be further student success to celebrate.

“We are here, we are tried and tested; we have an impact. We are here to serve the community and there’s not a single student that hasn’t left us without gaining their GCSEs at a high level.”

For more information on Eden Education and the services we provide, please visit our website or contact our admissions office. Unlock your potential with Eden Education – where your future begins.

Address: Eden Education, 40 Abbey St. Carlisle, CA3 8TX

Tel: 01228 830831 

Email: info@edeneducation.co.uk 

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